Ray Overholt spent his young years living on a farm near Middleville, Michigan, a
town southeast of Grand Rapids. He caught the musical itch at an early age
when he took two dollars and got a guitar and taught himself to play.
By the time he was ten years old, he had written a tune called "The Lonesome
Cowboy".

He continued to write songs after growing up and beginning to entertain the
folks in the Grand Rapids area. Two tunes they mentioned were "Desert Sand"
and "Believe in Me Or I'll Be Leaving You".

Ray was said to have given the youngsters in Grand Rapids, Michigan
quite a treat each evening at 6:00pm, Monday through Friday over WOOD-TV.
He had a television show called "Ray's Roundup" and it included a partner that
they said was "...old codger named 'Shorty'..." Ray would play his guitar
and sing, while Shorty would spin some tall tales.

His guest list on the show was impressive - stars such as Hank Williams,
Red Saunders and Delores Hawkins had appeared on the show.

Ray also began to do a bit of songwriting and had one tune published by
the Country Music publishing company called "Will The Lord
Look down And Frown At Me" that was recorded on a Diamond label. Another
tune, "Finance Company Blues" was published by the Venice Music and recorded
for Specialty Records.